Roller gin and feed system incorporating the same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an improved ginning system incorporating a roller gin and a feeder for the same. Means is provided for presenting the cotton to the roller gin substantially one lock at a time. Incorporated in the gin is means to move the ginning roller into and out of ginning relation to the ginning knife, and means is provided in the system to cause the ginning roller to move out of ginning relation to the knife whenever there is less than a predetermined amount of seed cotton in the feeder.

This invention relates to a ginning system incorporating feed means anda roller gin for ginning the cotton.

In recent years the capacity of individual roller gin stands has beenimproved by the introduction of a rotary knife used in conjunction witha stationary knife working against the main roller of the gin. Whilethis combination is a great improvement over the prior roller gins,nevertheless it is still dependent upon a very uniform feed of seedcotton in single locked condition to obtain maximum efficiency. As isunderstood in the trade, single locking is the plucking apart of theseveral seed locks within the cotton boll so that each seed with itsremaining fiber is a separate element. Because of the nonuniformity offeeding roller gin stands, not only is the capacity of the roller gindiminished, but also the ginning rolls, sometimes called packing rolls,are exposed to excess heat and wear when the stationary knife is allowedto run for long periods of time without cotton fibers passing betweenthe knife and the roll. Once the ginning roll becomes worn nonuniformlyit is impossible to obtain full efficiency from the gin.

As this description proceeds it will be seen that the object of theinvention is to provide several, distinct and coordinated improvementsin roller gins and systems for feeding the same. First, it is an objectof the invention to enhance the single locking action of the feederwhich feeds the gin stand. Second, the invention has for an object toassure a uniform feed of the cotton across the entire width of a ginningroll. Third, the invention has for an object to stop the build-up ofheat and wear of the ginning roll and any time there is not a fullsupply of cotton available to the gin stand. Fourth, we propose means toclean the ginning knife periodically during operation of the gin.

Briefly, in our invention there is a sensor in the hopper between theconveyor distributor and the feeder over the gin stand. While the sensormay take various forms, an arrangement which we have found to besatisfactory is a switch with a feeler arm located in the hopper so thatwhen there is not sufficient cotton supplied to the conveyor distributorto fully feed across the feeder, and hence across the gin, the sensorwill provide a signal. This signal immediately stops the feed rollers atthe upper entrance to the feeder. This in turn stops the flow of cottoninto the feeder. We provide a time delay which allows the cotton toempty from the feeder, beneath the feed rolls and to clear the ginningpoint. The time delay just mentioned is so associated with the mountingmechanism for the roller that the roller is moved out of working contactwith the knife, to stop the heat build-up in the ginning roll. Also, inthe control circuit we provide means periodically to stop the gin andclean the ginning knife of accumulated lint.

A system illustrating the respective features of our invention is shownin the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, wholly diagrammatic, partly brokenaway and illustrating a single gin stand with a feeder and an overheadconveyor distributor supplying the seed cotton to the feeder;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view looking at one end of the gin andfeeder;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view looking at the apparatus from the endopposite that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic vertical detail sectional view taken along line4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of one of the mechanisms for movablymounting one end of the gin roll shaft;

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 and showing the mechanism formoving the opposite end of the ginning roll shaft;

FIG. 7 is a partial, diagrammatic sectional view of the ginning roll andthe mechanisms shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, removed from the gin structureitself;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along line 8--8 ofFIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a wholly diagrammatic wiring and fluid pressure diagram.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of ourinvention, it will be seen that our improved system comprises generallya conveyor distributor indicated by the numeral 10, a verticallyarranged feeder hopper 11, a feeder 12 and a roller gin 13. As is knownin the art, the conveyor distributor brings the seed cotton from thepretreatment machines, such as cleaners, dryers and the like, and dropsit downwardly by gravity into the feeder 12. The feeder then suppliesthe seed cotton to the gin 13 for ginning. A conveyor indicateddiagrammatically at 14 is located beneath the gin to carry away seed andthe lint is discharged from the back of the gin through a lint flue 15having a suction fan 16 connected thereto. See FIG. 4.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 4 it will be seen that the gin 13embodies the usual framework or box-like enclosure 17. Mounted in thegin 13 is a ginning roll 18 the outer surface of which is covered with abelting-like material 19 as is understood in the art. A ginning knife isindicated at 21 and is mounted on relatively heavy, supporting framework22 which spans the gin from end to end so that the knife 21 iscoextensive in length with the roll 18.

At 23 we show what is called in the trade a rotor bar 23 which is drivenin the direction of the arrow 24. The unit 23 also is substantially thelength of the roller 18 and knife 21.

At 26 we show a guide plate which is adjustable toward and from theroller 18 and the purpose of which is to direct the seed cotton downonto the rotating parts as will be explained. Extending the length ofthe knife is a pipe 25. The pipe has a plurality of upwardly directedopenings 25a therein. As will later appear, we propose to supply thepipe with air under pressure, at intervals, thus to remove from theworking edge of the knife 21 lint which builds up thereon.

As stated, the entire roll 18 is so mounted that it may be moved intoand out of operating or ginning contact with the knife 21. Thus, theroll 18 is provided with a shaft 27. Each end of the shaft 27 is mountedin bearings 28. These bearings in turn are mounted on slide blocks orplates 29. The slide blocks or plates 29 are mounted in guides 31suitably secured to the end framework of the gin structure.

At 32 and 33 we show pairs of fluid pressure cylinders, for instance aircylinders, to which air under pressure may be supplied from lines 34.These cylinder pairs are suitably mounted on the gin framework so thatthe piston rods 36 thereof engage cross members 37 forming a part of theslide system for supporting the ends of the shaft 27. Thus, wheneverpressure is applied to the cylinders 32 and 33 the roll 18 is pressedinto ginning contact with the ginning knife 21. When pressure isreleased, due to the upward inclination of the slide assemblies, roll 18moves by gravity downwardly and away from the knife 21, so that itssurface 19 no longer frictionally engages the knife.

A normally open switch 39 is mounted on the side wall of the feederhopper 11. This switch has an arm 41 which projects into the feederhopper as shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 4. Switch 39 is sopositioned that whenever there is less than a predetermined amount ofseed cotton in the feeder hopper the switch opens, for a purpose laterto be described.

The feeder 12 comprises a pair of feed rolls 42. These may be in theform of spiked members and they are driven by a variable speed electricmotor 43 through suitable chains 43a or the like to rotate in thedirection of the arrows, FIG. 4. Seed cotton is delivered downwardlybetween these rollers at a given rate as determined by the speed of themotor 43.

Immediately beneath the rollers 42 is a spiked cylinder 44, the tips ofthe spikes 46 of which pass very closely adjacent the tips of the spikesof the rollers 42. Also mounted adjacent the cylinder 44 is anotherspiked cylinder 47 and these two cylinders run over grids 48 and 49.Trash falling from the grids 48 and 49 is removed from the gin by aconveyor 51.

Driven in the direction of arrow 52 is an extractor saw 53. A brushdoffer 54 is associated with the lower periphery of the saw 53. Areclaimer saw 56 also is served by the doffer 54 generally in thecustomary fashion.

From the description so far given with respect to the feeder, seedcotton enters between the rollers 42 which are driven in the directionof the arrows as indicated. The spiked cylinder 44 is driven so that theperiphery of its spikes travel faster than the rolls 42 whereby cottonis single locked as it exits from the rolls 42. This single lockedcotton then is discharged under the grids 48 and 49 onto the saw 53,finally being doffed down a slide 57 located above the ginningmechanism. The various rotary mechanisms of the gin and feeder (exceptfeed rolls 42) are driven by a motor 55 through the belts and chainsshown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring again to gin 13, it will be seen that we provide an opening13a extending substantially the width of the gin and into the seeddischarge section, above the seed belt 14. Also, a plate 15a is spacedbeneath the ginning roller to provide for the passage of air beneathroller 18 for a purpose to appear. Between the ends of the roller 18 andthe ends of the gin frame we provide strips of sealing material 18a,thus to assure that a flow of air is maintained about the lowerperiphery of the ginning roller. See FIG. 8.

Referring now to FIG. 9 we will describe, in diagrammatic fashion, theelectrical and pneumatic mechanisms associated with our improved system.At 58 we show a time delay mechanism which controls the motor 43 andwhich in turn controls an electrically operated valve 59 for supplyingair to and releasing air from the cylinders 32-33. Thus, when switch 39is closed it will be apparent that the feeder motor 43 is energized,rotating the feed rolls 42. Similarly, valve 59 is energized whereby airunder pressure from a source, not shown, is supplied through a conduit60 to the conduits 34, whereby the cylinders 32-33 are pressurized,forcing the ginning roll 18 into contact with the knife 21. Let it beassumed that with the system in operation insufficient cotton to gincompletely across the gin is present in the hopper 11. In this case theswitch 39 opens, timing in the time delay switch 58. .[.After a givendelay the.]. .Iadd.The .Iaddend.motor 43 for the feed rolls 42 isdeenergized and .Iadd.after a given delay .Iaddend.the pressure oncylinders 32-33, at both ends of the ginning roll shaft 27 is relased,permitting the ginning roll to move out of working contact with theknife 21. Also, the timing in of timer 58 starts a second timer 61 whichopens a solenoid valve 62 to supply air under pressure from a suitablesource through a conduit 63 to the perforated conduit 25. The timer 61is set to blow for a few seconds and then times out and resets itself,ready for a new cycle. Thus, during the times when the switch 39 is openmotor 43 is stopped, cylinders 32-33 are pressurized and air, undercontrol of timer 61, is supplied to the conduit 25 to clean away lintwhich may be draped over the working edge or other parts of the knife21.

We have found that the accumulation of lint on the working edge of theknife is a serious problem in the operation of this type of gin.Therefore, it is desirable to clean this lint away at given, regular,predetermined periods of time. In order to accomplish this weincorporate as illustrated in FIG. 9 a third timer 64. This timer is setto time in after a given length of time, for instance, six to tenminutes of operation. When this happens timer 64 overrides switch 39,thus shutting down the gin and blowing air onto the knife to clean it.We thus have the capability not only of cleaning the knife whenever thesystem comes to a halt due to lack of cotton, but also, with theaddition of the timer 64 we accomplish this cleaning at predeterminedintervals of time in the ginning operation.

It will be noted that the suction fan 16 connected to the lint portion15 of the gin draws air from the outside over the top of the plate 15a,between that plate and the lower periphery of the ginning roller 18.This air not only serves to doff any lint which may be clinging to thesurface of the roller 18, causing it to enter the lint section 15, butalso provides a means of cooling the surface 19 of the roller 18.

The opening 13a provided at the front of the gin permits the operator toinsert his hand without danger of becoming involved in any moving partsof the machinery, thereby to collect a quantity of the seed, todetermine, by inspecting the same, the quality of the ginning being doneby the system.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have devised an improvedsystem for ginning cotton embodying a roller gin and means to assurethat the gin is receiving adquate cotton during times when the knife isin contact with the ginning roll. Our improved system incorporates feedapparatus which single locks the cotton assuring that the gin is fed inthe most efficient manner possible for such gins. Likewise, we assuremore efficient cooling of the surface of the ginning roll by theprovision of the plate 15a, providing a space across the ginning rolland at the bottom thereof in communication with the lint section 15.Also, by providing some means such as the pipe 25 to clean the workingedge of the knife 21, we further increase the efficiency of the gin andprolong the life of the working surface 19 of the roller 18.

In actual practice our improved system has proven to be verysatisfactory and we have increased the capacity of the gin and at thesame time have eliminated the uneven wearing of the covering 19 of theroll 18 due to improper or partial supply of cotton to the roller.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible ofvarious changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof.

What we claim is:
 1. In a cotton ginning system embodying at least oneroller gin having a ginning roll, a ginning knife and a feeder having apair of driven feed rollers disposed to feed seed cotton to the gin, theimprovement comprising:(a) means associated with the feed rollers tosingle lock bolls of seed cotton passing therethrough, (b) meansmounting the ginning roller of movement into and out of ginning relationto the ginning knife, and (c) means responsive to the absence in thefeeder of a predetermined minimum amount of seed cotton to move theginning roller out of ginning relation to the ginning knife. 2.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which there is means responsive tothe absence in the feeder of said predetermined minimum amount of seedcotton to stop rotation of the feed rollers.
 3. Apparatus as defined inclaim 2 in which there is means responsive to the absence of saidpredetermined minimum amount of seed cotton in said feeder to delay fora predetermined time the movement of the ginning roller out of ginningrelation to the ginning knife after said feed rollers cease turning,thereby permitting the gin to gin at least some of the cotton alreadypassed by the feed rollers.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in whichthe means associated with the feed rollers to single lock cotton passingtherethrough comprises a spiked roller having the tips of its spikesspaced closer to the feed rollers than the thickness of a lock ofcotton, and means to drive the spiked roller so that its spikes travelat a greater linear rate of speed than the feed rollers, whereby bollsof cotton momentarily held between the feed rollers are struck by thespikes of said spiked cylinder, thus to single lock the same. 5.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which there is means operable whenthe ginning roll is out of ginning relation to the ginning knife toremove from the ginning knife cotton which accumulates thereon. 6.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which there is means to pass a streamof air into contact with the lower surface of the ginning roll, therebyto cool the surface thereof.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in whichsaid gin is equipped with a passage to receive lint discharged from theginning roll, a suction fan connected to the passage and effective todischarge lint from the gin, and a space defined by a plate-like memberlocated adjacent the periphery of the ginning roll through which spaceair from atmosphere is inspirated by said suction fan, thereby coolingthe outer surface of the ginning roll.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim7 in which there are seal means at the ends of the ginning rolleffective to prevent the inspiration of air from the ends of said rollinto the lint passage.
 9. In a roller gin of the kind having a ginningroll and a ginning knife, together with means mounting the roll andknife for relative movement toward and from each other, the improvementcomprising:(a) means automatically effective, in response to moving theknife and roll relatively apart to non-ginning position to remove cottonwhich may have accumulated on the knife, thereby decreasing the frictionbetween the knife and the roll.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 inwhich means to remove said cotton comprises a conduit located adjacentthe knife, there being openings in the conduit directed toward saidknife, and means to supply air under pressure through said conduit. 11.In a cotton ginning system embodying at least one roller gin having aginning roll, a ginning knife and a feeder having a pair of feed rollersdisposed to feed seed cotton to the gin, the improvement comprising:(a)means to feed seed cotton substantially in single locks to the ginningroll and ginning knife, (b) means effective to produce relative movementbetween the ginning roll and knife for moving the same out of ginningposition relative to each other, (c) means responsive to the absence inthe feeder of a predetermined minimum amount of seed cotton to bringabout relative movement between the ginning roll and ginning knife, toposition them in inoperative position, (d) means associated with theginning knife to remove therefrom cotton which accumulates thereonduring ginning, and (e) means operable at predetermined times in theginning cycle to actuate the cotton removing means set forth in (d),above, while the operative parts of the gin are in non-ginning position..Iadd.
 12. In a cotton ginning system embodying at least one roller ginhaving a ginning roll and a ginning knife with means for mounting theginning roll for movement into and out of ginning relation to theginning knife, and a feeder having a pair of driven feed rolls disposedto feed seed cotton to the gin, the improvement comprising:(a) meansresponsive to the absence of a predetermined minimum amount of seedcotton at the inlet of the feeder to produce a signal, (b) means to stopthe rotation of the feed rollers upon receiving the signal from themeans of element (a), above, and (c) means effective after the passageof a predetermined time to move the ginning roll away from the ginningknife in response to said signal. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. In a cottonginning system embodying at least one roller gin having a ginning rolland a ginning knife with means for mounting the ginning roll formovement into and out of ginning relation to the ginning knife, and afeeder having a pair of driven feed rolls disposed to feed seed cottonto the gin, the improvement comprising: (a) means responsive to theabsence of a predetermined minimum amount of seed cotton at the inlet ofthe feeder to produce a signal, (b) means to stop the rotation of thefeed rollers upon receiving the signal from the means set forth in (a),above, (c) means to which said signal is fed and effective after apredetermined time to deliver a second signal, and (d) means responsiveto said second signal to move the ginning roll away from the ginningknife..Iaddend.